Optical printed circuit board and method for manufacturing the same

Abstract

An optical printed circuit board according to the embodiment includes an insulating layer; an optical wave guide buried in the insulating layer to transmit an optical signal; and an optical path converting part provided on at least one end of the optical wave guide to convert a transmission path of the optical signal defined by the optical wave guide such that the transmission path has a predetermined curvature.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An optical printed circuit board comprising:
 an insulating layer; 
 an optical wave guide buried in the insulating layer to transmit an optical signal; and 
 an optical path converting part provided on at least one end of the optical wave guide to convert a transmission path of the optical signal defined by the optical wave guide such that the transmission path has a predetermined curvature of an obtuse angle. 
 
     
     
       2. The optical printed circuit board of  claim 1 , wherein the optical path converting part comprises:
 a first optical path converting part provided on a first end of the optical wave guide to convert the transmission path of the optical signal; and 
 a second optical path converting part provided on a second end of the optical wave guide in opposition to the first end to convert the transmission path of the optical signal. 
 
     
     
       3. The optical printed circuit board of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second optical path converting parts include thermosetting insulating materials surrounding the optical wave guide to keep the optical wave guide at the obtuse angle. 
     
     
       4. The optical printed circuit board of  claim 2 , wherein the optical wave guide comprises:
 a first region parallel to a top surface or a bottom surface of the insulating layer; 
 a second region extending from one end of the first region and having the predetermined curvature of the obtuse angle; and 
 a third region extending from the other end of the first region and having the predetermined curvature of the obtuse angle. 
 
     
     
       5. The optical printed circuit board of  claim 4 , wherein at least one end of the second and third regions is exposed through a top surface or a bottom surface of the insulating layer. 
     
     
       6. The optical printed circuit board of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second optical path converting parts include a thermosetting insulating material having a glass transition temperature higher than a glass transition temperature of a material for the insulating layer or include a liquid-phase thermosetting material. 
     
     
       7. The optical printed circuit board of  claim 1 , wherein the optical wave guide comprises:
 a core layer to transmit the optical signal; and 
 at least one clad layer surrounding the core layer. 
 
     
     
       8. The optical printed circuit board of  claim 7 , wherein the core layer includes a material having a refractive index higher than a refractive index of a material for the clad layer. 
     
     
       9. The optical printed circuit board of  claim 7 , wherein the core layer includes at least one of silica and SiO 2  mixed with polymer. 
     
     
       10. The optical printed circuit board of  claim 1 , wherein the optical wave guide has a multi-channel structure or a multi-layer structure. 
     
     
       11. A method for manufacturing an optical printed circuit board, the method comprising:
 forming an optical wave guide to transmit an optical signal; 
 forming an optical path converting part to convert a transmission path of the optical signal by bending at least one end of the optical wave guide; and 
 burying the optical wave guide having at least one end bent by the optical path converting part in an insulating layer. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the forming of the optical path converting part comprises:
 forming a first optical path converting part to convert the transmission path of the optical signal by bending a first end of the optical wave guide; and 
 forming a second optical path converting part to convert the transmission path of the optical signal by bending a second end of the optical wave guide, which is opposite to the first end. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the forming of the first and second optical path converting parts comprises:
 converting the transmission path of the optical signal defined by the optical wave guide such that the transmission path has a predetermined curvature of an obtuse angle. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the forming of the first and second optical path converting parts comprises:
 surrounding the optical wave guide by the first and second optical path converting parts including thermosetting insulating materials such that the optical wave guide is kept at the obtuse angle obtained by bending the optical wave guide. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the thermosetting insulating material includes a liquid-phase thermosetting insulating material. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the optical wave guide comprises:
 a first region parallel to a top surface or a bottom surface of the insulating layer; 
 a second region extending from one end of the first region and having the predetermined curvature of the obtuse angle; and 
 a third region extending from the other end of the first region and having the predetermined curvature of the obtuse angle. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein at least one end of the second and third regions is exposed through a top surface or a bottom surface of the insulating layer. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second optical path converting parts include a thermosetting insulating material having a glass transition temperature higher than a glass transition temperature of a material for the insulating layer or include a liquid-phase thermosetting material. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the forming of the optical wave guide comprises:
 forming a core layer to transmit the optical signal; and 
 forming at least one clad layer surrounding the core layer, 
 wherein the core layer includes a material having a refractive index higher than a refractive index of a material for the clad layer.